Oasis on the highway. Here’s the story, I had just finished hiking 9 miles in Shenandoah. I had burnt +2k calories and had my destination set to a burger joint in Charlottesville. As I was driving down the road, I saw a big sign BAVARIAN and then I noticed the lot packed with cars and I hooked the next left i could and turned right around and dropped in. All indication was that this was going to be a good spot. A grand hefe weizen and a wiener schnitzel later and I was sound as a pound, happy as a clam, calm as a cucumber, and sittin’ pretty on the deck watching the cars pass through. The beer was crisp and bright — signs of a good distributor and quality taps. The food was rich and light. The service was quality and hospitable. Lord knows if i’ll ever pass through again but i’m sure glad i did get a chance.

A pretty good German restaurant! We ordered pork shank and Bavarian platter - both were not on the menu but provided in the list of today’s special. Pork shank was great with the fried onion on top. Bavarian platter was also delicious with chicken cordon bleu, sausage and brisket. For the sides, we could order 4 sides, so we ordered creamed corn, green beans, glazed carrots and zucchini. All of them were great! The dessert was just so-so. The service was pretty good. Will recommend to call in advance and make a reservation.

Wow! If I could give this place more than 5 stars, I would. The food was amazing, the portions were MORE than generous, and the price was right. I had a “restaurant week” special that was delicious, and the beer selection was quite delicious. I left feeling more full than I ever have. The desserts were some of the best I’ve had in years. Our water glasses were never empty, and the service was prompt and friendly. I WILL be coming back.

Food - 5/5 Service - 5/5 Value - 5/5 Atmosphere - 4/5 I’ve had family living in Bavaria and this is authentic food. They have many imported Paulaner beers (THE classic brand of German beer) and all the classic dishes. A broad menu and interesting specials, some with seafood. A big dessert menu. While the prices do seem high, they give you massive portion sizes and it’s actually a great value in total. For $50/person, we may me able to make 3 total meals/person with leftovers. The atmosphere feels very German and they play cheerful polka but in some rooms, the structure does seem a bit aged. The best food within a 30 minute drive, undoubtedly

Food is superb!! Went there for our Anniversary. Well worth the over 1h drive!! That's how good the food is. We had the Mandel Schnitzel with sides that are served home style. A beer garden was added with German style outdoor benches and tables. Just like at the Oktoberfest. The only con I have is that the inside of the Restaurant could use a well deserved update.

We have been dying to come here for years, it was well worth the wait! I made a reservation a week in advanced and we were glad we did because it quickly got busy for prime lunchtime. The specials were impressive and the duck was some of the best I’ve had. I haven’t had duck prepared like this since I was in France over a decade ago. Felt like I was vacationing abroad! We enjoyed the beer taster flight and dessert too. We’ll definitely be back for special occasions!

What a fantastic place to stop by for a great & hearty meal. None of the 3 of us could finish our meals & had to pack up and take so much good food home with us. We’ll plan future trips through the area to make sure we have time to stop in for a meal on our way.

Wonderful service and delicious food. No one left hungry and we had plenty of leftovers. I appreciated that they had a separate menu that identified all Gluten Free options / modifications. Our server was very attentive and fast. We're kicking ourselves for passing by the establishment before and not stopping- excited to go back next time we're in town!

Wonderful food and a great atmosphere. I had mussels and they were great and my son had the sausage plater which he thoroughly enjoyed. The only thing I'm knocking them on is the dinner rolls/bread. We didn't order dessert since the entries were more than enough. The desserts looked amazing.

Really loved this place... Service, ambiance and the food was amazing. Steak was so flavorful and the desserts were great as well. I am so glad we got to enjoy the Thanksgiving evening over there.

Had fried trout (with head). Nice job of deboning! Husband had pork tenderloin with strawberry sauce. It was surprisingly very moist. Veggies: excellent cream corn, home made; potato salad; green beans; No dessert. We were full.

Great little German style restaurant. Haven’t been to Germany in years so this was nice very nice to visit. Great beer and excellent schnitzel! Highly recommend.

I’m struggling to give them a 4 instead of 5 but unfortunately I can’t but notice some flaws. We came around 1 PM on a Saturday and the restaurant was quite empty. The pretzel appetizer was very rich and well-seasoned with the sausages and veggies, and the cheese was wonderful. Although I have to say the pretzel itself was a disappointment—very hard and seem not properly risen. Although it very much could be the German way but it really isn’t to my taste. My entree, the classic Bavarian sausage platter, was perfect. The sausages were huge, and the sauerkraut and mashed potato were so perfect together. The sides though (we had green beans, zucchini, spaetzle, and potato dumplings) were very mundane. The spaetzle was especially a disappointment as the flavor is so boring and the texture very hard. Probably they prepared it at the beginning of the day and it has just been sitting there for half a day. The desert we had, was the German Chocolate Cake. The icing was really really good, but the cake itself was so dense. That part was really unpleasant and I wish it were different. All the items were huge portions. We needed up bringing so many food home. So the value is very fair. The service was also very friendly and attentive. We enjoyed the place very much. I personally do not mind the old building.

The place just makes you feel like you are in Germany the moment you start walking into it. The food was outstanding and the quantities were large. Our server was fantastic and extremely attentive.

The Bavarian Chef offers a delightful taste of Germany with its traditional food recipes. The menu is a culinary journey through Bavaria, featuring hearty dishes like schnitzels, sausages, and sauerbraten. The pleasant atmosphere and attentive service enhance the dining experience. Whether you're a fan of schnitzel or sauerkraut, this establishment is a fantastic place to savor authentic German cuisine. The cozy interior, complete with Bavarian decor, adds to the charm. Don't forget to pair your meal with a refreshing German beer or a glass of Riesling. Overall, the Bavarian Chef is a must-visit for those seeking a taste of Germany in a warm and welcoming setting.

Since moving to Virginia, we have been trying to find a go to resturant for german food. We came across the Bavarian chef on an online add and decided at the last minute to make the trip. We are very happy we did! On a busy Friday night they were able to accommodate a party of two near the bar area. The restaurant was busy with several large parties, however, service was fast, friendly and efficient. While the decor was dated, it reminded me of the many great German restaurants we visited every fall in NJ. The food was beyond delicious! While not as tender as I have had in the past the flavor of the sauerbraten was quite possibly the best I have had. The sides were all excellent as were the portions. We both had leftovers to take with us that did not go to waste. The black forest cake was just like my mom used to make, very tasty. When the bill came, we were very satisfied for the quality and quantity for the price. This was a great experience made even better by the scenic drive coming from Beaverdam. This will be our new go to german restaurant for sure!

Food is truly authentically German and delicious. Desserts are amazing as well. Reminded me of my years in Germany. Always find time to eat there when in Madison VA.

We dined here 9/23 and loved everything. We’ve lived in Germany and appreciated the authenticity of the menu and the care taken with the preparation of the food! My husband was in deep emotional love with the Schweinshaxe ha ha The selection of wines and liquors is great too

Authentic German restaurant serving a variety of offerings. Portions are generous, food fair, service excellent. Reservations preferred but we have been there several times without and were still seated. Pretzel with cheese and mustard and sausage sampler are great.

This was one of the best restaurants I've been to in years! The service was beyond amazing and friendly, the food was so authentic and tasty! You have the try the pretzel and beer cheese! 😍

This place is incredible. The Jäger Snitzel was next level. PLUS the wait staff, chefs, hosts, and everyone involved in your stay goes above and beyond to make you feel well fed & cared for. Incredible place to eat & drink 🍻

We stopped here for the first time on 12/20/20 the place seemed dingy, the drinking glasses were dirty. We ordered the special pork loin over strawberry gin sauce it was very bland. We also ordered the seafood special with scallops which were over cooked. chicken which was NOT cleaned, shrimp, and fish, covered in puff pastry. About the side dishes, the sweet carrots were old, the canned crème corn had to much sugar added, the potato dumplings were tasteless, and the red cabbage had too much vinegar in it. The meal was waaaaay over priced @ $65 for 2 plus tip! On top of this we got very sick on our ride back home. A long rough ride from Va to SC! Do not like unisex restrooms at all. WILL NOT BE BACK!

I don't think it's possible to have a bad experience here. The food and service are top notch, not to mention the very cozy atmosphere. Expensive, but absolutely worth it!

The food and atmosphere was wonderful, the waitress was very friendly. Docking a few stars due to finding two hairs in my escargot.

Had an old quaint German feel to it. Server was really polite and helpful. Loved the food, pretzel, and beer. Portion sizes are quite big. My only complaint is that it was a bit to hot and stuff in there for my liking.

The waiter was great. The pretzel appetizer was good. The yager schnitzel was disgusting, the chicken cordon bleu was not good, wife had pork chops that were ok but not special. At $20-25 a plate i expected much better food. Everything but the food was good.

Incredible food. We order take out from here at least once a month and I’ve never had anything but excellent food and service

Very clean an staff is friendly. The food is very good and plentiful.

Excellent service and food was delicious!

Never disappointed , everything was spot on & the wait staff was awesome

My parents went to the Bavarian Chef on one of their first dates in 1979, and we have made family trips for anniversaries and birthdays ever since. Absolutely love their food and recommend it to anyone travelling in the area. Fine dinning without the big city prices or pompous atmosphere. When I visited with a friend from Munich he was impressed that the Chef stocked beers that had sold out in Germany

The sausage platter is the best!!!

Great atmosphere, large portions..we split an entree and had plenty

German

Very very good food good beer and a nice atmosphere

Great service and wonderful food.

Amazing food!

Wonderful experience

They have a boot of beer. lul.

The staff was so kind and helpful, and the German food is delicious!

Interesting place prices for normal things are high

Great food and service! Could use a little sprucing up though, but maybe that's part of the "Old World Charm."

Fabulous in every way! This restaurant is a diamond in the ruff for sure. My girlfriend and I spent 3 hours sitting in our booth upstairs talking, drinking, and eating a 3 course meal.

After finding Bavarian Chef online while driving back home, my wife and I had a wonderful German meal, making up for all the Oktoberfest cancelations due to covid 19. Excellent bratwurst and saurkrat, along with beer, strudel for dessert, completing a special meal. Highly recommend.

We really enjoy the Bavarian Chef! Service was great and food was delicious.

Most excellent German style restaurant, plenty for anyone.

Excellent food and cute environment. Almost like we were back in Germany!

Came out on our way to Shannendougha Valley. Had the red pepper soup with crab meat special and the Hühnerbrüstchen Baden-Baden. Excellent food. Excellent service. Portions were MASSIVE, and I'm glad we decided to split the meal. Had the Hefe Weißbeir, which made me miss Munich and the surrounding areas. The restraint even took extra measures to isolate patrons and the adjoining booths. Such a great experience!!!

Amazing little restaurant! Recommended the Steak Au Poivre

The food and dinning experience is just out of this world a must stop .

The food is fantastic and the beer selection is large as is the 2 Liter Boot of beer. Try one with meal as it is the way to truly enjoy it the most. I had no idea that the food portion size would be so large when ordering. I ended up taking a big portion home with me and made 2 more complete meals out of it. The schnitzel is some of the best I have ever had and the soup and shrimp were definitely tasty. If you are anywhere near this restaurant and love German food, please stop and give it a try. I was here for mother's day and the food was unbelievably good. Fantastic food! 2017-09-12 Oompah shrimp and a special chicken/seafood in a pastry, yum! 2019-10-20 Food was fantastic as usual! 2020-10-04 I have to say more this time about how the food is so good here. The Oompah shrimp and the Zigeuner Schnitzel are my favorite here and I look forward to it so much. I get the mashed potatoes and carrots and they are my favorite two sides. Here is my review of the food. Zigeuner Schnitzel is a go out and get it now! If you have not tried it you have to try it. The zesty mushroom, onion, pepper, tomato & bacon sauce with the two huge pork portions make it fit for a king! I end up making three meals out of it because it is such a gigantic portion. My wife puts it in a skillet the next day and it heats up perfectly and still stays moist inside. Oompah shrimp is a go out and get it now! I could easily make a meal just on the shrimp because it is so good but my wife and I split a basket. There's no comparison to any shrimp I've had anywhere else and it is absolutely fantastic! Creamy red bell pepper soup with lump crab was a would recommend plus. Every single time I have been here the staff have been wonderful and helpful with the menu. The only problem I have with this place is I'm always too full to eat dessert and they have some lovely desserts on the tray they bring around to tempt you. if I lived in the area, I would just come and get a cup of coffee and a dessert occasionally just so that I could try several. All in all this is a must-visit establishment and passing it up would be a mistake.

I LOVE this place. Great service and amazing food!! Come very hungry!

Food was amazing and came in huge servings! Definitely worth the money. It's pricey but it's perfect for a special date night. My husband and I were celebrating his promotion in the military and we're so happy we picked this cute little place! We will definitely be coming back

Food is fantastic. Service is attentive but not overbearing. Try the pretzel appetizer.

Tried this spot in the past with my friend and I am hooked since then. I liked the fantastic ambience and delightful food and beverages. They never disappoint.

Love it! Love it! This place is best place if you are looking for amazing food.

I have driven by this restaurant between Culpeper and Charlottesville dozens of times over the years and always noted how busy it looked. So my girlfriend and I decided to give it a try over Labor Day Week-End. Bad idea -- give your digestive system a break and skip this place in favor of the many fine restaurants in Culpeper and Charlottesville. The way my stomach felt upon leaving reminded me of the last time I was forced to eat at Cracker Barrel 20 years ago. Sorry, Bavarian Chef, but we will not be returning.

Love love love! I work for ugly bug llc & my boss took me here for lunch after a cold day so good & cozy. 12/10 reccommend, will return 😋.

10/10 Amazing! The service, food and drinks all just perfect. The lemonade is fresh like their ingredients! If you're even thinking about pizza just go there now, you will not regret it!

Great atmosphere. Decent beer selection, good service and the pizza is spot on. I lived in Sicily for 3 years and these guys have gotten pretty close!

Way too overpriced for what you get. The crust is so thin and floppy. They have a bunch of different pizzas but they are all basically the same just slightly changed with a spice or two. They don't have a lot of variety as far as toppings. They weren't very hospitiable and rushed everything. Paid over $40 for 2 pizzas and a drink. I'm from Cincinnati where the cost of living is higher and generally the restaurants are pricey but worth it. This was not worth the price.

The food was unbelievable, the handmade pasta I got was amazing! And the Japanese cake went well beyond expectations. Definitely my favorite place in Harrisonburg!

Shame on this restaurant! I took my wife here for date and they charged $2 more for gluten free food. This is the first time in my lifetime that I experienced. Been in restaurants all over the world and this is unacceptable, plus the gluten free pizza is disappointed no taste at all.

The vibe in Bella Luna is great for all ages. A young family can easily come in and have a slice of pizza while an older family sits and has a drink at the table next to them. The food there is great, and the music is even better. Great restaurant.

Great Pizza. Good Beer selection. Amazing atmosphere. Can't wait to go back next time I'm in town.

Favorite place to eat in Harrisonburg. Last time I came my pasta was steaming hot on the outside from the cast iron pan, which i like and the inside was freezing for some reason.

Pizza menu definitely has a lot of variety in terms of choices and flavors but the HUGE DOWNSIDE is the size! Paid over $40 for just two pizza’s and I can’t believe how small they were. I would suggest having two sizes for pizzas and pricing it accordingly to better serve your customers.

Very good flavor of the pizzas. I would say the pizzas felt fresh and of course they took a bit longer but it was worth every single minute. Our server was helpful and knew the menu options for us since it was our first time eating there. I liked the decoration of the place and the vibe was cozy, warm and welcoming. Hope to visit again soon. Delicious flavor and good service. Highly recommend it!

Great food. And great atmosphere.

Need to update their website it is completely unsecured

Tasty food and a happy atmosphere, great for small get togethers, a date night, or a birthday. Very versatile for occasion and very fresh. During covid, tables are well spaced and staff wear masks properly and change gloves correctly. I will definitely be going back.

WOW... Great Place...Very Cool inside...The Fried Oysters were Yummy...Great thin crust pizza...Great Service !!!!!

The pizza i ordered was small and flat I recommend not ordering pizzas from them

Rigatoni was amazing!

Pizza was great as well as fried oysters.

Very busy place so go early if possible. Nice atmosphere, good food and fresh tasting. The sever, who I believe was also one of the bartenders that night wasnt very friendly and was somewhat inattentive. But, too be honest, for the price you pay for trendy personal pizza and cocktails here I expected a bit more rather than unwanted and rushed.... I know its an odd thing to say for a restaurant and I still would recommend this place. On a side note, the hostess was pleasant and bubbly.

Pizza was a little underdone, service was scatterbrained at best

Some of the best wood fired pizza you're gonna get

Absolutely amazing pizza especially for the price. It was fast and the service was great. Will definitely be back very soon

We loved every part of our meal at Bella Luna! From the beet and toasted peanut salad, to our main meal of pizza & house made pasta (made with organic flour), to our fabulous local lager and shagbark hickory manhattan, this was one of our top dining experiences together as a couple. We'll definitely eat revisit if we ever travel through Harrisonburg again in the future.

Always spot on and awesome.

Pizza was delicious and the risotto was excellent

Awesome place. Awesome Pizza. Awesome Beer.

Great food for the money. The margherita pizza was absolutely delicious.

Good food and atmosphere. Our server(the lady with a lot of tattoos) was phenomenal. She memorized our whole order(7 people) really well. Food was tasty too but the only downside is the portion for the price they charge. Over all I’ll be going here again but maybe for like twice a month.

Awesome pizza . the flava was amazing .great little pizza..everyone needs to taste this !!

Great service, great pizza, great music, and a great aesthetic! Highly recommended if you find yourself in Harrisonburg!

Excellent!

Great Pizza & nice atmosphere!

Very good pizza from a wood fired oven. Service was good.

Everything was great!

Good food, yet a bit pricey for the product itself.

Absolutely fantastic, food was amazing, warm inviting environment!

Absolutely delicious! Excellent service!

I went and they didn't have the items to make food on their menu. I ront blame the staff but why give me a full menu and not warn me that I cant order some stuff? They didn't have chicken at the time I went.

Great Waiter! Thanks Doug! The pizza was out fast and it was delicious! Farm to table awesome!

Solid pizza. Salad was good. Decent beer menu.

Very good.. It was well woth my drive (over a hour)

Very good brick oven pizza

A really good German restaurant with amazing service. Our waiter modified a couple of dishes to meet our dietary restrictions. The French Onion soup was off the charts delicious. Veal Schnitzel in pear sauce was amazing. Unfortunately we were so full, we could not indulge in the delicious looking desserts.

I saw this place on the Google Maps while exploring the Shenandoah Valley and decided we needed to try it. I'm glad I saved the location because this place was perfect! Delicious soft warm breads on the table, very kind and convivial staff. The building itself is very cute and cozy, with stained glass windows depicting sunflowers throughout. Upstairs and downstairs are both equally lovely dining spaces and really, wherever they sit you is going to be great. The portions here are big and generous. We both had to pack half our entrées away for later! Everything reminded me of dinners with my best friend's German family on special occasions growing up. The Schnitzel was perfect, the potato salad was perfect, and really....I hate to keep using the word but there is literally no way to make what we ate more perfect than it was. I got so excited I started taking photos and video and sending them to friends in the area ("have you been here? You have to go!"). For desert we had Sasha(sp?) Torte and apple strudel, and I very much enjoyed them despite how full we were. We had to pack half of those away for later too. We definitely over-ordered but it was worth it to try everything. If you have not been here, be confident that it will be really good and head over!

The price is $$$, but the food flavor and portions are equal to what your paying for. The atmosphere is nice with German music playing and nicely wallpapered and paintings/Muriel’s on the wall. Definitely worth the trip and a return trip. Everything ordered tasted made from scratch.

Delicious, authentic German/euro style food with very quaint atmosphere inside. Beautiful stained glass and decorations, plus staff is knowledgeable about meals and willing to explain/recommend. Kinda pricey but you’re definitely paying for the whole experience.

Very unique dining experience. Schnitzels are a specialty here and a must try. Though the building is dated the ambiance inside takes you to Germany right away. Very friendly service.